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Attention Graduate Students and Clinical Training Directors!

Update on Supervisory Requirements and Sequence of Training Leading to Licensure at the Doctorate

The Law and Legislative History

The 2009 legislation  SB 951/HB 654 - License to Practice Psychology - Doctoral Degree in Psychology - changed the psychology licensing law (Title 18).  It includes the definition of a doctoral degree in psychology, and the training requirements to sit for licensure. The new law became effective on March 1, 2010.  It is important for current and future graduate students to note the approved graduate programs in psychology that will be accepted for licensure under that new law.   In addition to specifying the definition of the degree, the law also essentially states that, if you meet all the supervisory experience and hours, and graduate program criteria and requirements, prior to or at the receipt of your doctorate, you would have met eligibility for licensure. Meaning that the post-doc supervisory year would not be necessary.   However, for those who have not met all the supervisory requirements or hours by that time, post-doc supervision would still be needed and is not eliminated. The language in the bill looks like this:

Health Occupations Article ; Subtitle 3 Licensing § 18–302 (f) The applicant shall have at least 2 years of professional supervised experience in psychology that is approved by the Board IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATIONS ADOPTED BY THE BOARD [At least 1 year of this required experience shall have occurred after the doctoral degree is awarded.]

 

As you can see, the bill itself does not specify what the regulations are that have been adopted by the Board. Those regulations were revised and promulgated by the Board of Examiners in light of this new piece of legislation. Those changes occur in Title 10, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Subtitle 36, Board of Examiners of Psychologists, Chapter 01 Procedures .04 Profession

 

The New Supervisory Regulations

Even though the law itself passed, new supervisory regulations had to be written before any implementation of the law could occur.  This is extremely important to note, especially for those about to receive a doctoral degree in psychology.  You can see the proposed supervisory regulations included here - below, or on the Maryland Board of Examiners of Psychologists website: http://www.dhmh.state.md.us/psych/index.html  under Laws & Regulations - the last in the PROPOSED REGULATIONS, COMAR list, in red.  These regulations will not take effect until after a Notice of Final Action has been filed via the Maryland Register.  The regulations would then take effect within 30 days or by the date specified in the Notice. The regulations will be in effect by October 1, 2010.  As part of meeting the new requirements, the Board of Examiners is working with the training programs to develop official forms, clinical and non-clinical, required to document the graduate training experience.

To those graduating now: study the regulations with great care!  You may not meet the new proposed requirements either in the correct sequence or type of training, or in the number of correct and substantiated supervisory hours.  If you require post-doc hours to meet supervisory hours, you should probably proceed with your original plan and do the post-doc.  You may also want to consider whether or not mobility of license will be an issue for you, as well.  If you intend to practice in another state, you need to ensure that you meet the requirements there, which may include post-doctoral supervision.

To those graduating in the future:  Take as great a care in documenting your experience, hours, etc., during your post-internship, as you did during pre-internship.  Staying in touch with your graduate training program will be very important at the post-internship, pre-doc point in order to ensure that all documentation is correct and accepted.

Check back with us - MPA will keep everyone informed as regulations become effective.

NEW SUPERVISORY REGULATIONS - click here

 

Legislative Affairs

The 2010 Maryland General Assembly

The MPA Legislative Committee is worked hard to monitor and respond to proposals and bills as they became available.  Through the filter of MPA’s legislative committee policies and agenda - developed ultimately from the MPA mission statement - pieces of legislation affecting insurance and reimbursement, scope of practice, children, schools, forensic services, public mental health, and other areas, legislation is scrutinized for its effect on practice and the equitable access to mental health care for the citizens of Maryland. 

• Click here to see list of legislation of particular interest to Maryland psychologists and MPA's position on bills this past session.